Rowville's Chinese New Year party a great success

A New Year party for the Chinese Frienship Group was held at Rowville Library on the Friday prior to Chinese New Year. The room was beautifully decorated and about 40 people attended the session.Nick Wakeling, MP attended for the third successive year to present a cheque for the Sing Tao newspaper subscription.

Following the presentation we did Auld Lang Syne in the friendship circle with the 4 English speakers singing in English, then the Chinese speakers sang the same song in Chinese. They sang some more songs in Chinese whilst we all clapped along and then it was time to eat - amazing and different foods including some black jelly which they told me was 'grass'. Later on I found out it was 'grass from the sea' - what an opportunity to join in with this celebration.

The Chinese Friendship Group comprises people from many countries including China, Taiwan, Malaysia, Hong Kong and so on. They come to the group because of their common language and to see them all together with the 4 Aussies, singing, dancing and talking - what a great cultural event!

Cheers, Rowvillian